Nordstrom Pulls Gucci Turban From Website After Facing Criticism

Gucci is receiving backlash (again) for selling a turban on the Nordstrom website that was originally shown during the luxury brand’s fall/winter 2018 runway show. Priced at $790, the blue head covering — which the brand named the “Indy Turban” — has generated a barrage of criticism on Twitter this week.

Twitter user Harjinder Singh Kukreja wrote, "Dear @gucci, the Sikh Turban is not a hot new accessory for white models but an article of faith for practising Sikhs. Your models have used Turbans as ‘hats’ whereas practising Sikhs tie them neatly fold-by-fold. Using fake Sikhs/Turbans is worse than selling fake Gucci products."

According to Elle.com, the Sikh Coalition, a New York-based civil rights organization, says, "The turban is not just an accessory to monetize; it's a religious article of faith that millions of Sikhs view as sacred. Many find this cultural appropriation inappropriate, since those wearing the turban just for fashion will not appreciate its deep religious significance."

Following the viral reaction, Nordstrom responded by saying it would pull the turban from its website, writing on Twitter: “We have decided to stop carrying this product and have removed it from the site. We sincerely apologize to anyone who may have been offended by this.” There has been no comment yet from Gucci regarding this incident.

The move comes just a few months after Gucci was called out for selling a balaclava sweater for looking too similar to blackface. After that issue, the brand announced in March that it would launch a Gucci Changemakers program and up its diversity initiatives.